What Are Endosteal Dental Implants?

There are 2 different types of dental implants. The most common is endosteal implants. An endosteal implant is made up of an artificial tooth root placed directly into the jawbone. The implant protrudes through the gum with the abutment and crown being placed on top.

Endosteal implants are the most common type of dental implant available. If you are considering dental implants to replace a missing tooth, your oral surgeon will most likely recommend this type of dental implant. Of course, talking to your oral surgeon about all your options is always important before moving forward.

Endosteal vs Subperiosteal Implants

The primary difference between endosteal and subperiosteal implants is where they are placed in your mouth.

Endosteal dental implants go into the jawbone under the gums. Subperiosteal dental implants are still placed under the gums but lie on top of the jawbone. Even though endosteal implants are more common, subperiosteal implants are a great option for people who have a weak jawbone.

How Are Endosteal Implants Placed?

The placement of endosteal dental implants has been known to be long and invasive. Most of the time commitment is dedicated to healing. However, thanks to advancements in dental technology, placing the implant itself doesn’t usually take very long. With the help of same-day dental implants, you can even leave the first appointment with a full smile.

Preparing for Endosteal Implants

Before we can place the implant, we need to have a plan. Once we determine you’re a good candidate for endosteal implants we will make a digital model of your teeth. From there we will plan out exactly where each new tooth needs to go. This ensures the implants are placed at the right position and depth, which increases precision and accuracy.

If necessary we will perform a bone graft, which entails pulling bone from another part of your body to increase the strength of your jaw bone.

Placing Endosteal Implants

We place endosteal implants using robotic technology. The robot doesn’t replace your surgeon but instead guides them as they place each implant. Each placement is based on the plan we developed earlier.

You will be under general anesthesia, which just means we will numb your mouth before surgery. Then we will make incisions into your gum where the implants will be placed. The robotic guide will help the surgeon drill holes in your jaw bone and the implant posts will be set.

Depending on your case you may qualify for same-day dental implants. This just means that when we place the endosteal implants we will also attach temporary teeth. So you walk away from the office with a full smile. After the implant site heals we will attach the permanent teeth.

Healing and Recovery for Endosteal Implants

Healing is an essential part of successful endosteal implants. During a process called osseointegration, your jaw bone will grow around the implant, which keeps it secure. This process usually takes several months.

Immediately after the implants are placed you will need to be on a soft food diet for a while. Avoid eating crunchy or chewy food to give your mouth a chance to rest.

You should expect to experience some discomfort, minor bleeding, bruising, swelling, and/or pain. While over-the-counter drugs typically help relieve pain, please contact a specialist for a stronger prescription if you are experiencing sharp pains. Additionally, if you experience any other symptoms, please speak to a specialist ASAP, as other issues such as infection can occur and should not be left untreated. You will also need to follow a soft-food diet during a portion of this time. Once the mouth has fully healed, the crown can finally be attached.

Pros and Cons of Endosteal Dental Implants

All medical procedures come with benefits and potential complications. It’s important to discuss everything with your oral surgeon before moving forward with endosteal implants.

Pros of Endosteal Implants

• Long-lasting
• High success rate

Increases jaw bone strength

Things to Think About

The biggest thing to consider when it comes to endosteal implants is the strength of your jawbone. Because these implants rely on your jaw as an anchor you need to have good bone density for them to work. Before moving forward, your surgeon will evaluate your jaws.

The time commitment you will need to make is also something to consider. Even though you’re able to walk out of surgery with temporary teeth, you will still need to spend several months recovering. It would be best if you made sure this time is available.